PINA Summit kicks off

Regional media representatives including USP Journalism Programme’s Geraldine Panapasa with UN-PRAC representative Mihaela Stojkoska, seated third from left, Tonga’s Minister for Justice and Prisons Vuna Fa’otusia, Australian High Commissioner to Tonga Andrew Ford and PINA president Moses Stevens. Picture: SUPPLIED/JONE TUIIPELEHAKI

By MEREONI MILI in Nuku’alofa, Tonga

THE 5th Pacific Media Summit got off to a positive start in Nuku’alofa, Tonga today as delegates from around the region as well as representatives from the private and public sectors and development partners engaged in robust discussions at pre-summit workshops about empowering the media for digital challenges.

The weeklong event featured pre-summit workshops on the role of the media in oversight and accountability, climate change reporting and experiences from COP23 as well as the role of the media in the agriculture sector.

Prime Minister of Tonga, Samiuela Akilisi Pohiva is expected to be the chief guest at the opening ceremony tomorrow afternoon.
Interactive plenary sessions are expected to start on Wednesday and end on Thursday afternoon.

Also attending the summit is USP Journalism Programme’s teaching assistant Geraldine Panapasa and final-year journalism student Mereoni Mili, who is also a member of the newly-formed Pacific Environment Journalists Network.